Tumbler
Unknown Artist
1830–70
Medium
Pressed glass
Dimensions
H. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm); Diam. 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm)
Classification
Tumbler
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Emily Winthrop Miles, 1946
Accession Number
46.140.189
Art Historical Context
This delicate tumbler, crafted from pressed glass between 1830 and 1870, exemplifies everyday American ingenuity during the nation's industrial boom. Standing just 3¾ inches tall with a diameter of 3⅜ inches, it was designed for practical use—likely holding water, whiskey, or punch at the family table—yet its molded form hints at decorative flair typical of era's mass-produced glassware. Pressed glass revolutionized American manufacturing in the 19th century. Molten glass was poured into intricate metal molds and compressed under high pressure, enabling affordable replication of elaborate pat...